…Calls them ‘unpatriotic’
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has criticised what he describes as “unpatriotic politicians in the northern region”, allegedly plotting against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Matawalle, formerly the governor of Zamfara State, who accused these politicians of lacking grassroots support and having an “entitlement mentality”, asserted that northern politicians with strong bases firmly support Tinubu.
His remarks follow recent criticism from a former national vice-chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Salihu Lukman, who recently resigned from the ruling party.
Lukman had rebuked northern politicians aligned with Tinubu’s administration, claiming they had been reduced to mere sycophants.
In a statement issued on behalf of Matawalle by the Ministry of Defence spokesman, Henshaw Ogubike, the Minister expressed confidence that the alleged plot against Tinubu would fail. He highlighted the substantial benefits the northern region has allegedly received under the President’s leadership and urged northern political leaders to unite behind Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
Matawalle emphasised that supporting Tinubu would further enhance the country’s economy and political landscape. He also pointed out key appointments of northerners in Tinubu’s government, including: Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, as Minister of Defence; Atiku Bagudu, as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Muhammed Idris, as Minister of Information and National Orientation; Ali Pate, as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Abubakar Kyari, as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Jamila Bio Ibrahim, as Minister of Youths, Shu’aibu Audu, as Minister of Steel Development; Joseph Utsve, as Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation; Yusuf Tuggar, as Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as several Ministers of State.
Regarding the security sector, Matawalle mentioned Nuhu Ribadu, as National Security Adviser, (NSA); Yusuf Bichi, as Director-General of the Department of Security Service, (DSS); Ahmed Rufa’i, as Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA); General Christopher Musa, as Chief of Defence Staff, Hasan Abubakar, as Chief of Air Staff; Mele Kyari, as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Bello Koko, as Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority, (NPA), all of whom are northerners.
